“We taught them young to make themselves comfortable here and know that the kitchen was always open, but I don't think we thought that through. They were young then. Not the ravenous teenagers who could eat all day and still be hungry,” Tessa said with a loving look at Sky.
“It’s true,” he mumbled with a full mouth.
I glanced into the living room, and it was empty. Even though I had to expect it, my heart still dropped. “No Gavin today?”
Tessa lowered her eyes. “Not today.”
Or tomorrow or the next day either. How long could he go on avoiding me, especially when I was spending so much time at his house?
I sighed and pushed him out of my mind. I needed to focus on training. “So what are we practicing?” I asked.
“Daniel got more information about your mission. You’ll be sent to Robert’s department as part-time employees. Very few people in the company are Society, so you’ll be going in as normal teens with no abilities or knowledge of the members. We’ve checked that none of them know Sky’s face so you two will be able to listen in and report back with what you find. We believe one of Robert’s coworkers knew his itinerary and shared that with the group that attacked him.”
I swallowed. This felt like a job for real secret agents. Not me and Sky, but I had to trust that Daniel and the council know what they were doing.
“What if this gets leaked?” I had to ask. If they already knew a traitor in their organization, then how do we know there isn’t one in the council warning the others that are involved?
“Only a select few know about the plans for you guys. People who have been vetted and proven trustworthy.”
I nodded and glanced at Sky. “How can we prepare? Wouldn’t Luca or Gavin be better for this?”
Luca’s hearing and Gavin’s invisibility had to be better than lie detection and a protective shield.
Tessa smiled. “Unfortunately, most of those that work in the department have been reported for sexist behavior. They don’t think that women should work at their level.”
I gasped. “Really?”
She frowned but it turned into a wicked grin. “They’ll be let go at the end of this, but for now their reprehensible attitudes will work in our favor. We’ve been told from previous women that the men will say things they shouldn’t in front of them because they don’t seem to even notice they’re there.”
“Like inappropriate things?” Sky asked.
“Sometimes, but I mean things that are confidential or even self-incriminating.”
I raised a brow. “So I’ll be listening?”
“Yes, and Sky will be there to tell if any of them are lying. He might need to get in with the men to gain their trust, so they might even brag in front of him.”
“Bragging about Robert’s attack?” Sky asked before I could.
“Yes, Robert is the department head, and not all the people under him like him. If you can complain about him to them, it might get them talking.”
Sky went pale. “About my dad?”
She nodded. This didn’t seem like a good idea. What if there were pictures up of Sky in Robert’s office? Sure, Tessa said no one knew his face, but there was too much at risk.
“I think I can come up with some complaints about him,” Sky said with a chuckle.
Tessa let out a small laugh. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy that, but remember, you’re there to learn who is behind the betrayal.”
His eyes darkened. “I won’t forget that.”
I swallowed at the hatred in his voice. Maybe he was the perfect person to send in. No one cared as much as he did. He would go to any length to get answers. I was there to make sure he didn’t go too far. To keep him safe. It was a new feeling to be the protector rather than the one needing help. I would take my task just as seriously.
“Avalon, you’ll be sent in as a receptionist filling in for a woman on maternity leave. You’ll see everyone who comes and goes into the office, and we’ve been told that your desk is near the area where several of the employees hang out and chat. You’ll be able to listen in without seeming out of place.” I nodded, and she turned to Sky. “You’re temporarily filling in as an assistant from another department while the normal employee is gone on an extended vacation. You’ll be given some basic work like taking notes during meets, sending and replying to emails for the team manager. He is the one who reports directly to your dad, so you’ll have access to most information, and no one will bat an eye at your asking questions.”
“Got it,” Sky said without a smile. This was one of few times I’d seen him so serious.
“What about school?” Missing class wasn’t much of a concern, but how would they explain weeks of absences?